Chapter 16

Naomi woke up to find herself laying naked as the day she was born. Feeling a little drowsy, she relished in the comforting warmth of the sturdy naked body that was hugging her. That was when the memories of last night hit her like a comet, making the young brunette's face blush profusely bright red. She began to have an internal existential crisis. She wanted to deny that she wasn't a pervert but...

'Oh, god... what did I do last night?! Naomi! What were you thinking!!!'

She wouldn't lie though. She knew full well that deep inside, she was extremely glad and satisfied about what happened.

But, does that make her a pervert? No... right?

She's a perfectly innocent brunette!

'Ugh... who am I kidding.' Rolling her eyes, Naomi found herself staring and admiring the naked Adam next to her. More specifically, she stared at his girth that was hard from the morning-wood, and wondered how she was able to take in such a large thing.

She was studious to a fault, but as embarrassing as it is, she cannot deny that she was the one who came and visited them last night, knowing full well that Adam and Zero Two were in the midst of their lovemaking session. Of course, this also meant that she was expecting Adam to take her in as well. Who would've known? She also got penetrated last night! And it felt good— no, it felt heavenly!

It was the best thing she had ever experienced in her entire life!

It felt overwhelmingly good that words could not explain it. But now that her mind was clear, she felt extremely embarrassed and ashamed of herself. And no, it wasn't about the sex itself but rather, how she acted during the sex.

'Uuu....' It was so embarrassing that she wanted to bury her head in a hole.

What's worse is that Adam wasn't the only one there, but Zero Two too!

...Which made her feel like blaming Zero Two too since she was the one who kept goading her and whispering dirty things in her ears.

'....Oh no... I'm feeling tingly again.' She could not mistake the wet trail falling down between her thighs.

Naomi's embarrassment lasted only a few moments before she was interrupted by Zero Two who was already up and ready. The young girl's eyes were filled with hunger and desire, making Naomi blush even more. Zero Two approached her with a smirk, her lips hovering over Naomi's ear as she whispered, "I bet you're thinking about last night, aren't you?"

Naomi's face burned, her cheeks turning red as she tried to avoid eye contact with the other girl. But Zero Two wasn't letting her off that easily. She grabbed Naomi's chin, forcing her to look into her eyes. With a sultry look, the pink-haired girl licked her lips and said, "Don't be embarrassed, Naoms. We all had a great time last night, and I'm sure you did too."

Naomi opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. She was still too embarrassed to speak. Instead, she settled for a small nod, which only fueled Zero Two's desires; her eyes gleaming in amusement.

"See, that's what I thought. My darling is simply the best." she boasts with a smile to which, Naomi could only nod her head in agreement.

Adam really was the most perfect partner one could wish for. Not only was he a great and capable pilot, but he's special enough to be allowed to perform these 'forbidden acts' that made her feel like she was in Heaven. An overwhelming pleasure and experience that she never knew existed.

Only Adam as capable of giving her that.

Just then, a transmitter alarmed. Zero Two's happy face immediately became sour as she looked at her wrist. Naomi stared at the older girl as the latter clicks her tongue in annoyance.

"Nana's calling me..." she grumbles before looking towards Naomi and Adam.

She stared at Adam for a bit, before sighing loudly and reluctantly rose from the bed. Naomi had to admit that Zero Two really was a beautiful young woman. She couldn't help but admire her slim but sexy figure which was further enhanced by her exotic features such as her waist-length pink hair, the red markings at the edge of her beautiful sharp turquoise eyes, and the two small red horns located a tad bit above her temples.

It was hard to imagine that this beautiful girl was enjoying getting ploughed by Adam's huge member. With how vivid her ecstatic face and vulgar noises she made during her act with Adam, Naomi really had a hard time believing that she was the same person now.

By the time Zero Two wore her clothes, she gave the brunette a playful grin, knowing full well that the other girl was checking her out.

"I'm gonna go now." Zero Two says to Naomi. "If darling wakes up, tell him Nana called me."

".....Okay." Naomi replied.

"Oh, and by the way." The older girl stopped and gave her a playful look. "I like your taste. I'm looking forward to having you join darling and I next time."

"....." Naomi once again turned bright red as she could only put her gaze down to the quilt and cover her nakedness out of embarrassment. 

Zero Two snickered and finally left the room, leaving Naomi alone with Adam. Realizing that she was alone with Adam, Naomi laid on his chest again, finding herself less embarrassed as she was before. Then, an idea occurred to her.

The young girl hesitated for a moment before reaching out and touching his girth, marveling at its size once again. She couldn't help but wonder how such a thing entered her last night. Without pain at that.

Honestly, when Adam's member went inside her for the first time, she could vividly remember her mind flickering between white blankness and electrifying jolts of pleasure.

Her hands continued to absent mindedly explore Adam's body as she relived the memories of last night.

"Had your fill?"

Naomi's eyes widened in surprise, her face turning a bit red. "You should tell me if you're awake!"

She looked at his grinning oh-so-charmingly handsome smile that was clearly teasing her.

Adam chuckled, his eyes crinkling in amusement as Naomi's face turned red. "I could feel you exploring me," he teased, gently nudging her hand away.

"Stop it!" Naomi blushed even more, trying to push her embarrassment down. But it was no use, every time she looked at Adam, she couldn't help but remember how he made her feel.

"You're so cute when you blush," Adam said, smiling mischievously.

Naomi huffed, trying to find a retort but failing miserably. "Well, at least I'm not a sex machine like you!"

He was a pervert for being one!

Adam laughed wholeheartedly at that, shaking his head. "You wound me, Naoms. Are you really going to deny that you enjoyed our little... activities last night?"

Naomi 'ummed' and 'ahhed', but the memory of his thick member plundering her tight young pussy made her cheeks heat up once again. "Fine," she finally admitted, "It was good, but let's not make a habit of this, okay?"

'Forbidden acts' were mind numbingly good and having experienced it herself, she could understand why it was named like that in the first place. She could definitely get addicted to it... which is why it was dangerous.

For now, she wanted to limit herself back to just kissing... and maybe with his fingers too. That's all....

'But is it really enough?' her inner urges questioned her.

Adam raised an eyebrow in amusement, seemingly observing her conflicted face, "Are you telling that to me? Or to yourself?"

"....mainly for me." Naomi admitted, pouting slightly.

Why does this guy have to point out the obvious? Hmph!

"It's alright, you know?" Adam tries to comfort her, "By becoming my partner, you already had the privileges of enjoying the 'forbidden acts'. Besides, if we want to increase your potential, we would have to do this more often."

Naomi's pussy tightened at his words. She thought that she should be more thoughtful and self-disciplined, but it seems that can't happen with Adam's special ability.

'Oh well.' Naomi relented and rested her face on his chest. She gave up thinking too hard about her situation. For now, she's just going to enjoy whatever she and Adam could do.

As they lay in bed, Naomi couldn't help but feel grateful for having Adam as her partner. He was handsome, strong, and most importantly, he could give her things she'd never experience if she had been stuck with another stamen.

But she couldn't help but wonder if it was just her body that craved Adam, or if it was something more. The thought made her cheeks heat up even more, and she quickly changed the subject.

"So, what do you want for breakfast?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Adam grinned, knowing exactly what she was trying to do. "I was thinking about going out for a run," he said, getting up from the bed. "Care to join me?"

Naomi hesitated, remembering how he left her umm and ahh during their little... activities. But she knew she had to prove herself as the perfect partner.

"Sure," she said with a smile, getting up from the bed. As they headed out the door, she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. But she knew she was in good hands with Adam. After all, he was the best partner she could ever ask for.

***

In a hallway, a sliding door opened and a young teen with messy black hair entered. This was naturally Hiro.

As Hiro entered the hallway, Ichigo coincidentally walked past him.

"All done?" she asked, knowing that he was getting checked up in the infirmary.

Hiro found it hard to gauge her mood since she didn't seem to want to look at him, which was rude but he was used to it. He knows that she cared for him in her own ways.

"Yeah." he replies, "They said they didn't find anything wrong."

"Oh. That's good to hear." was all Ichigo said.

"...."

"...."

Feeling a bit awkward, especially with what happened the last time, Hiro couldn't help but look sideways as he spoke,

"Hey..." He looked at her; his eyes subconsciously falling to her lips. Hiro immediately looked away. "Ichi-"

Just as he was about to speak, Nana's voice suddenly spoke from Ichigo's transmitter.

[Ichigo, get ready.]

"Roger." Ichigo briefly replied before continuing down the hallway. Leaving Hiro alone without saying anything else to him.

Standing there alone in the hallway, Hiro had a complicated face as his gaze fell to the floor.

Truthfully, he wanted to apologize to her and tell her that it wasn't her fault. But when the opportunity revealed itself, he just had to ruin it by being conscious of her lips.

'...Damn it.' he clicked his tongue inwardly.

Meanwhile, in the dark room that's filled with holographic monitors, two APE senior adults could be seen standing beside a rectangular table that was currently showing a particular male parasite's data. They were Nana and Hachi, and they seemed to be in a control-room of sorts as majority of the holographic monitors were surveillance cameras for the facilities their parasites would most often be seen.

"He's the first sample that's ever piloted with her and taken so little damage." Nana spoke as she read an medical examination report of Hiro after he rode with Zero Two.

Standing on the other side of the table, Hachi points out, "He failed to common connect with Delphinium, but he was compatible with Strelizia even though he wasn't conscious."

Holding her chin in thought, Nana's eyes narrowed as she said, "The only thing that could explain that is... Adam."

"Perchance." Hachi replied, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Nana continues, "It's highly possible. After all, it was worth noting that Zero Two and Adam underwent the 'procedure' before the awakening of Strelizia."

"But then, why did her previous partner, Parasite 086, passed away?" Hachi asked.

"Perhaps he's too weak." Nana says, "Either that or... Hiro is a special specimen that's compatible with Zero Two. After all, he was the one to awaken Strelizia."

"Didn't you and the doctor arrive at that conclusion already?" Hachi mentioned. "We can assume that HQ also thought of this, that is why they still haven't retrieved Zero Two from us yet."

He added, "Understandably, they would allow Zero Two to interact with Hiro as Strelizia would prove to be a formidable- if not, one of the strongest combatant for APE."

"Like the 9'a." Nana murmurs to which Hachi nodded stoically.

"Like the 9'a."

On the right wing of the parasite's boarding house was a small garden area whose walls were made of window panes. It was situated over the edge of a lake, allowing those who visit to enjoy the small garden while having a pleasant view of the naked surroundings. It was one of the recreational areas for the parasites who enjoyed a relaxing time with solitude with nature.

In addition to this, there was a bridge built over the lake; connecting the small garden area to a medium-sized pavilion built in the middle of the lake.

Two male parasites could be seen walking on that bridge. One was a tall bespectacled boy and the other was an average-built teen with messy black hair and blue eyes. These two youths were naturally Goro and Hiro.

"Did something happen between you two in the cockpit?" Goro asked casually. They currently came back from the pavilion and were now returning to the main house.

"Why do you ask?" Hiro replied.

"Well, Ichigo was acting a bit weird after the mock battle." Goro says while looking at the boy beside him.

Remaining despondent, Hiro replies, "She seemed mad when I ran into her earlier too."

Hearing his words, Goro sighed as he turned his face forward.

"She's always getting too worked up when it comes to you."

"Ichigo has?"

Goro smiles ruefully, "I mean, there aren't many of you with codes in teens. You're basically siblings." his smile became soft as he added, "And you've always been together, with me by your side."

Goro took a deep breath, feeling genuinely happy as he mentioned, "It was a miracle that all three of us got assigned from the special class to here."

Hiro blinks. "...Siblings huh... Yeah, you're right." as if just making his decision, Hiro stopped in his steps and said, "Hey, Goro."

"Hm?" Goro stops as well and looks at the other boy.

"You're her partner." Hiro says, "Could you tell her for me that it wasn't her fault?"

"Sure, I don't mind." Goro replied, before looking at Hiro worriedly. "But Hiro, what are you going to do now?"

Hiro's gaze fell to the ground as he spoke decisively, "I'll try asking if I can ride with Zero Two again."

"Hiro..." Goro's brows narrowed and asked him, "You've heard the rumors about her, right?"

"That nobody has ever piloted with her more than three times?" Hiro emotionlessly responds, "A rumor is all it is."

Growing increasingly worried for his best friend, Goro immediately tried to reason with him. "Didn't you say you saw what happened to her previous partner-"

"Look, Goro." Hiro interrupts.

"If Zero Two is the only one I can ride with..." A determined look replaced his usual gloomy face. "Then I absolutely have to ride with her."

"...." Goro couldn't bring himself to say anything else when he heard the resolution behind his best friend's voice.

Hiro continues, "Our entire purpose in life is to pilot the FRANXX. That's why were born. If I can't even do that then...."

Hiro turns to Goro with a genuinely questioning face, "What else do I have to live for?"

"....." Receiving that question, Goro could not answer his pitiful best friend.

At the same time, inside the Parasite's Boarding House's lounge area, the other teens of squad 13 could be seen sitting on the circular couch.

"So what happened to that talk about Hiro possibly becoming a parasite?" Futoshi asks everyone curiously as he munched on a piece of bread.

Ikuno closed her eyes and shakes her head in disappointment, "He could only connect for a bit at the start, so I don't like his chances."

Zorome smirked as he leaned back and arrogantly placed his shoulders by the backrest as if to put of some hot air, "No way he's getting in with that weak shit." he snarks in disdain while waving his hand dismissively.

"I don't know about the ones who managed a draw against that, either." Ikuno quips back.

She was usually kind towards her fellow female parasites. For the boys however, she could give less shits about any of them. After all, they were the same gender as her arrogant piece of shit of a partner.

"Huh?" Irritated, Zorome responded with hostility, like cat whose tail has been stepped on. "That was Miku's fault for randomly falling over."

"Excuse me?!" Miku, who was idly straightening the tip of her bangs, flared back when she heard his words. "Don't you remember what you said back then?"

"Why would I?" Zorome lazily says, "Waste of time."

Miku looked at him as if he was garbage. "You're unbelievable." she sighed and murmured under her breath, "Whatever. I'll just ask Adam to make me compatible with someone else... No way in hell am I going to be stuck with that filth."

"Huh?!" This time, it was Zorome who flared up in anger. "What did you just call me?!"

Miku's lips curled into a malicious smirk as she taunted him further. "I didn't even mention your name, but you still got triggered. Looks like deep down, you know exactly what kind of person you are.

"Why you!-" Zorome shot up from the couch, his eyes blazing with anger as he clenched his fists, wanting to appear threatening to shut her up. However, rather than being scared, Miku looked more ready than ever to throw hands with him.

Little piece of shit think she's afraid of him?! Her? Of all people?

"Now, now." Kokoro interjects in the middle of them. Her voice was calm, but firm. "Let's not fight here, now. Shall we? Please?" She pleads, tryin got diffuse the tension.

Looking at the two, Ikuno simply sighs as if it was a normal occurrence between them. Mitsuru however, managed to pick on what Miku said. Futoshi and Zorome also heard in clearly; the former flinched as he subconsciously looked over at Kokoro, while the shorty hid his anxiety behind his huge egoistic attitude.

"As if that guy would actually help you!" Zorome jeers, condescendingly gesturing towards Miku. "Don't you see the way he looks at us? He obviously thinks he's better than us." he then adds with ridicule, "What makes you think that he would help you, of all people, huh? Don't count on it!"

He swayed his arms arrogantly and sneered at her. "You're stuck with me whether you like it or not!"

Miku couldn't hold back anymore and rose to her feet, her voice dripping with disdain. "Have you become mentally unstable due to your inferiority complex? Adam is nothing like you said. He's kind, respectful, and let's not forget incredibly handsome." A dreamy look crossed her face for a moment before turning to disgust. "Unlike you who is short, ugly, and constantly needs to boost their fragile ego because they know they lack everything - height, looks, personality- everything. Honestly speaking, I think it's insulting to Adam to even compare your pathetic, worthless self to him."

She snorts as she jeered, "You probably already spent your entire life's fortune just to become my partner, and yet you still manage to mess that up." The venom in Miku's words was palpable as she stared Zorome down with contempt. "You keep deluding yourself into thinking that you're so great but let's have a reality check here. Without me, you're nothing."

"....."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The room became pin-drop silent after Miku spoke her piece. Even Zorome who always had something to say, was left speechless when Miku hit him with very hard home truths.

As for the others, they were no better. They knew that Miku always hated being partnered with Zorome. But they all thought that it was just a prideful contest between the two. Never in their minds did they think that these were Miku's real feelings on the matter.

It took a few moments before Zorome snapped back to reality. He wanted to retort to her, to deny her insults and even get back at her for saying those things. But for some reason, he couldn't bring out his voice.

So for the next few seconds, he looked like an idiot stuttering and gaping his mouth.

Miku felt a huge sense of satisfaction when she saw her hated enemy's speechless state. She had been wanting to do this for quite some time, but she always held it in because he was her partner. She was stuck with him.

'But not anymore!' Now that she heard what Adam could do and with Naomi being his proof to his claims, Miku didn't need to hold back anymore.

Actually, she was planning on bringing this up sooner or later. It was only because of the shorty's words yesterday along with his insults to Adam is what blew off her patience and blurt out everything without filter.

Harsh as her words were, it was what the contemptuous shorty deserved. Hmph!

Miku then felt a gentle pressure on her arm an turned to see her best friend Kokoro's hand. Kokoro's soft expression showed her understanding of Miku's feelings, but she still urged Miku to apologize to Zorome for her hurtful words. Miku's anger flared up and she stubbornly refused to back down.

"Miku, I get that you don't like partnering with Zorome," Kokoro said softly, "but you can't just say things like that. It's not right."

Miku bristled at Kokoro's words. "What do you know?" she snapped. "You're always on his side!"

"That's not true," Kokoro replied, "but you can't just insult him like that. It's not about being on his side, it's about being a good person. Besides, you two are partners, right?"

Miku huffed "Not for long," she said with a sneer. "If he's so eager for a new partner, then he's free to do so. I doubt anyone's gonna put up with his bullshit."

"Is that what this is about?" Zorome spikes up, "The thing that I said to Ichigo yesterday?"

"It's only a part of it." Miku replies venomously, "Your attitude's the biggest problem here."

"Oh, please! Like you're any better! You bi-"

"STOP IT!"

With Kokoro shouting at them, Miku and Zorome finally became silent, but that doesn't mean they stopped glaring at each other.

"Well, all your dysfunctional partnership aside,"

Suddenly, Mitsuru spoke, bringing everyone's attention towards him. Ikuno, who sat beside Kokoro, inwardly scoffs at his words while maintaining her neutral face.

'Like you're one to talk.' she sniped in contempt mentally.

Everyone turned to Mitsuru who sat nearby Miku. He had an upright gait with his right leg crossing over his left. He looks at the standing Miku, and said, "Is it true that Adam can do that?"

"Do what?" Miku asks back.

"Making you compatible with others." Mitsuru elaborated his question. "So, is it true?"

"Yes," Miku nodded, "Naomi said that Adam did something to her that allowed her to synergize with him despite being their first time being partnered together."

"I see..." Mitsuru nodded toughtfully.

Ikuno expectantly thought that he would look worried or a bit anxious just like Futoshi and Zorome was, but he seemed completely indifferent. He only held his chin in thought, not sparing her a single glance.

This irked Ikuno terribly, but again, she kept it all inside.

"Anyway," Kokoro spoke gently to Miku again, "Please apologize to Zorome-kun. Your words hurt him terribly."

Miku sneered as she looked at Zorome's direction, "I'll think about it if he apologizes first."

Zorome scoffs in response, "What the hell do I have to apologize for, huh?!"

"For being an egomaniac who constantly toots his own horn despite being a shorty." Miku replies impassively while checking her nails.

She knew that holding this attitude would infuriate him further and she having fun getting back at him.

"You-"

"Just drop it, please." Kokoro pleaded to them, "Your attitude to each other would affect your numbers, you know?"

Since parasites were named by their codenumbers, it became a ranking of sorts as those who had lower value would prove to be a high-valued specimens while those who had higher numbers were in risk of being pruned.

"Besides," Ikuno suddenly adds in as she looks at Miku, "Even if Adam did manage to make you compatible with someone else, It's not guaranteed that they could find a replacement for you. And what if they couldn't find a replacement? You would risk being kicked out of Squad 13 and being sent somewhere else, just like Naomi was previously."

Ikuno concludes, "If I were you, I wouldn't count my chicks before they hatch. Besides, Zorome-kun isn't really a bad pilot, just an intolerable one."

"Hey!" Zorome spikes up at the sudden jab.

No one paid attention to him as Miku sighed and sat back in the sofa.

She didn't say anything else because she understood that what Ikuno said was right.

Meanwhile, Zorome was seething. He knew that Miku's words stung because they hit close to home. But he also knew that he couldn't let her get to him like that. He vowed to prove her wrong, to show her that he wasn't the worthless piece of trash she thought he was.

As for Kokoro, she knew that the tension between Zorome and Miku wasn't going to go away anytime soon. But she also knew that they needed to work together if they were going to stay in their squad. Otherwise, they could be sent away to be pruned.... she would do anything she could to avoid letting that happen to her friends. She resolved to do everything she could to help them get along, even if it meant being the middleman between the two.

***

(A/N: Alright, as promised, here's the shameless patreon plug. [patr.eon.com/M3OWS]. Remove the "dot" inside pateron.

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